Dr. Sree Kurissery, one of the founding faculty members of Lakehead’s Orillia campus, now chairs the Department of Sustainability Sciences.

As part of our celebrations of Lakehead University’s 50^th Anniversary, I spoke to some of our faculty and staff to learn more about their experiences at both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses. My conversation with Dr. Sree Kurissery, associate professor of Biology and chair of the Sustainability Sciences department, is the third of a six-part series.

When did you start working at Lakehead?

2004.

Can you describe your first impression of Lakehead in three words?

Beautiful and welcoming. There were also lots of opportunities for career development.

Are there any exceptional or meaningful moments that standout in your memory from your time in Thunder Bay?

My days as a researcher in the Applied Microbiology lab: An amazing group of Biology department colleagues and students.

What is one thing you want people to know about Lakehead, or an interesting fact that not many people know about?

I like the way we describe ourselves in the mission statement – an “innovative comprehensive university” experience that Lakehead offers its students. For me it means everything together, from teaching to research to social activities. Students here are given the opportunity to get such a well-rounded education.

What personal success are you most proud of accomplishing during your time in Thunder Bay?

My favourite field of research is Biofilms and Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion and I have been publishing in those areas during my career prior to Lakehead. During my time at Lakehead Thunder Bay, I had the opportunity to continue research in those areas and to keep publishing and I think that is the personal success I am most proud of accomplishing while in Thunder Bay. 

What is a Lakehead-wide achievement that you think the entire Lakehead community should be proud of?

Being a member of Orillia’s founding faculty, I experienced the excitement as well as the challenges of the growth of Orillia campus, so when I think about Lakehead’s achievements, the first thing that comes to my mind is establishing the Orillia campus. There are lots of reasons to be proud of the Orillia campus.  Student enrolment is something that usually comes to peoples’ minds first as a reason to be proud, but to me I am proud to be a part of something new and the innovative opportunities that come along.  Being able to expand the Lakehead experience across Southern Ontario, that was a great thing to do, and as a teacher I am proud of being a part of that.

How did you first hear about Orillia/the development of the Orillia campus?

Through Lakehead’s internal communications.

What was the biggest reason behind your motivation to cross the province and come to Orillia?

Being part of something new and being able to contribute to its growth. I had the opportunity to spearhead the development of a new program, the Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environmental Sustainability. I had the opportunity to be a part of the creation of the Research Centre for Sustainable Communities. Looking back, I have a lot of good memories!

What is one similarity between the two campuses and one difference?

Lakehead’s motto is ‘one university, two campuses’, so everything is similar through my eyes. Differences are the geographic locations and the size of the campuses.

What do you hope Lakehead can achieve in its next 50 years?

Short term – I would like to see a world-class research centre for environment established at Lakehead Orillia. Long term – there isn’t a single answer, or a single thing I can say. Lakehead has a lot of potential thanks to our dedicated administration, faculty, and staff. So I would say the sky is the limit!

I’m very happy to be a part of the Lakehead family because of the opportunities it provides and the great people I’ve met. I really enjoy working with my colleagues, students, and the staff and seeing the constant smiles on their faces. It is a totally enjoyable atmosphere to be in.

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Stephanie Edwards is a fourth year Lakehead University student who works with Lakehead Orillia’s Communications office.

Celebrate with Us!

• Lakehead University's 50th Anniversary • 1965-2015

• Lakehead Orillia Homecoming: November 12 & 13, 2015

• Don't miss our 50th Anniversary Homecoming Dinner & Dance Party – a '60s Celebration! Enjoy a night of dinner and dancing at Casino Rama – November 13, with entertainment by Lance Anderson's Hitsville Revisited – The Music of Motown
• To purchase tickets, or to learn more about Lakehead’s 50^th Anniversary events, visit 50.lakeheadu.ca

As part of our celebrations of Lakehead University’s 50^th Anniversary, I spoke to some of our faculty and staff to learn more about their experiences at both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses. My conversation with Dr. Kim Fedderson, Orillia Campus Principal, is the first of a six-part series.

When did you start working at Lakehead University?

I started working at Lakehead as an assistant professor in the English department in 1989.

Can you describe your first impression of Lakehead in three words?

I can do it in four: university on the frontier. When I first got to the university, what was apparent was that the faculty were really engaged in teaching and research, and they were genuinely student-centered. I wanted to be in a place where faculty were focused on students and on the discovery of new knowledge, and within about an hour I realized that Lakehead was that place.

Are there any exceptional or meaningful moments that standout in your memory from your time in Thunder Bay?

There are so many moments. I remember having a conversation with a former student of mine, who is now doing a PhD in Education, and I talked to her about one of those days I had experienced where the world kind of shifted. I just thought it was a passing conversation and when we reconnected later, she sent me a poem talking about her experience as a student, and one of the things she recounted in the poem was this experience that I had shared with her. What caught me about that was that one can be having just ordinary conversations and they can actually be really significant in another person’s life. You never know when those conversations are happening but they can be transformative. It was a very special thing to have her recognize that.

What is one thing you want people to know about Lakehead, or an interesting fact about the University that not many people know about?

We have the best little English department in the country. The English department at Lakehead is an astonishingly vital, productive department. My daughter graduated from the English program in Thunder Bay after having gone to some other universities. It was very clear to her that our English department was the best she’d ever studied at. I knew I was a fan of it, but I didn’t trust my own opinion because I was part of it. She was studying with my colleagues who I held in high regard and she validated that, as have many others. Our English department is an incredibly strong department filled with exceptional teachers.

What personal success are you most proud of accomplishing during your time in Thunder Bay?

Receiving the Distinguishing Instructor Award. I was teaching a fourth- year literary theory course and one of the students nominated me for the Award and that was just a lifetime achievement.

What is a Lakehead-wide achievement that you think the entire Lakehead community should be proud of?

The establishment of the Orillia campus. Lakehead really stepped up to the plate. Orillia had wanted a university for a long time. We said ‘yes we are very interested in doing that’ and in very short order we opened up the downtown facilities. It was an incredible accomplishment.

How did you first hear about Orillia/the development of the Orillia campus?

The President at the time was interested in establishing a university in Orillia, and he came to the Dean of Science and me – I was the Dean of Social Science and Humanities at the time – and said: ‘if you were to establish a new university curriculum that would give graduates all the skills and abilities that they would need to address their own personal and societal needs for a university education, what would that curriculum look like’? That was a wonderful project and was the genesis of the Orillia campus.

What was the biggest reason behind your motivation to cross the province and come to Orillia?

Toronto was home.  I left Toronto to go to Thunder Bay, and I promised my wife that we would only go for a couple years and then come back. We fell in love with Thunder Bay but we have other family members and friends here. Moving to Orillia was a kind of homecoming. It was also a chance to begin a new university in a community that was really keen to have one. This, and having the opportunity to work with colleagues to create new programs, how could you not be drawn to come here to do that? It was an opportunity of a lifetime.

What is one similarity between the two campuses and one difference?

The difference is size. The Thunder Bay campus has a student population that is 5x the size of here, but that difference is insignificant because I think the cultures of the two campuses are very similar and that is something that we’ve worked really hard to bring about. I want students coming from Orillia to see themselves as Lakehead students and to have that pride and special experience. That is something that I have been passionate about and I’ve not really told many people about this, but my goal is to recreate that impression that I had my very first day at Lakehead. When I looked at the colleagues I was hoping to join, and found them inspirational. There’s a genuine commitment there and I wanted to make sure that that culture came here.

What do you hope Lakehead can achieve in its next 50 years?

I’m hoping that in the next 50 years we will realize the plans for the development of the Orillia campus, with 5000-7000 and that we will occupy the whole 85-acre site here and also have a vibrant downtown presence. We also will have one of the most innovative partnerships with a community college and that will be fully realized with Georgian. 

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Stephanie Edwards is a fourth year Lakehead University student who works with Lakehead Orillia’s Communications office.

Celebrate with Us!

• Lakehead University's 50th Anniversary • 1965-2015

• Lakehead Orillia Homecoming: November 12 & 13, 2015

• Don't miss our 50th Anniversary Homecoming Dinner & Dance Party – a '60s Celebration! Enjoy a night of dinner and dancing at Casino Rama – November 13, with entertainment by Lance Anderson's Hitsville Revisited – The Music of Motown
• To purchase tickets, or to learn more about Lakehead’s 50^th Anniversary events, visit 50.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead’s talk show style Report to Community event, with host Lakehead President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson (l), will take place on November 12 at Hawk Ridge Golf & Country Club. The event is open to the community and is an opportunity for the University to share its accomplishments and future goals. 

November 4, 2015 – Orillia, ON

Lakehead is launching the largest Report to the Community in its history – in celebration of the University’s 50^th anniversary – at an upcoming community luncheon.

The community is invited to learn more about Lakehead University’s exceptional people and events from the last year during a special 50^th Anniversary complimentary lunch at Hawk Ridge Golf & Country Club in Orillia on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 12 to 1:30 pm.

Lakehead President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson will host the talk show style event, which will highlight accomplishments from the past year, including conversations with guests representing Lakehead students, faculty, staff, and University supporters.

The event is free of charge, but RSVPs are required (at www.50.lakeheadu.ca/orillia). For further information, contact 50.anniversary@lakeheadu.ca or 705-330-4008 ext. 8747.

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Media are invited to promote this in advance and to attend the lunch for interviews and photo/video coverage.

Media: For more information, please contact Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies. 

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2015, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

by Stephanie Edwards, a fourth-year Lakehead University student who works with Lakehead Orillia’s Communications office.

October 29, 2015

Every year, Lakehead University’s Orillia campus opens its doors to prospective students, family members, and friends to come and learn about Lakehead and explore student life. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, November 7, from 12 – 4 pm at the 500 University Avenue campus. If you are someone trying to decide where you want to go to university, or if you know someone who is, here are ten reasons why Preview Day is the place to be!

 1. Experience a giant Skype room

via GIPHY

•  Our state-of-the-art telepresence room is like something out of Star Trek. With almost floor-to-ceiling screens that connect to our Thunder Bay campus, students and professors are able to interact with each other in classes and meetings, even though they are over 1,200 kms apart.  

 2. Discover the best spots to study

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• Current students have lots of valuable insight – especially about places with beautiful views or rooms that are the quietest during midterm season – and they’ll be able to tell you all of this and more when you come meet them.  

 3. Take a selfie with Wolfie! 

via GIPHY

• Our beloved mascot, Wolfie, will be on campus throughout the day and you will have lots of opportunities to meet our best cheerleader and get your photo taken with him!  

 4. Tour the campus

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• Our official campus tour guides and student representatives cannot wait to show you around their second home. You’ll be able to see all we have to offer, from lecture halls to labs and everything in between. 

 5. Meet your future friends

via GIPHY

• Preview Day is an incredibly popular event and many people who attend end up back here in September, excited and ready to start their university experience. Get a head start on making those lifelong friends and maybe even find a potential “canmate” (all our residence rooms are single, with shared bathroom) for residence!  

 6. Win free stuff

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• Who doesn’t love free stuff?! There will be tons of prize giveaways taking place throughout the day, with the grand prize being a Freshman Prize Pack valued at $2,500 that has everything you need to make your first year of university epic! 

 7. Get some Lakehead swag

via GIPHY

• Buying your first piece of Lakehead merchandise and wearing it proudly is an exciting moment. Visit our bookstore to see some of the great Lakehead-branded clothing, water bottles, coffee mugs, and much more, to completely deck yourself out in blue and gold.

 8. Meet our unconventional faculty

via GIPHY

• Talking to a professor can be a scary thing, but have no fear! On Preview Day, our professors are typically found examining cookies under a microscope or talking to students about the latest hockey game. They aren’t intimidating at all and have lots of important information to share with you, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions.  

 9. See a typical student dorm room

via GIPHY

• Living in residence is a major part of university life for a first-year student. Come check out our practically brand new residence building, where you can see a typical student room, as well as meet and talk to our residence life staff.

10. Figure out your future 

via GIPHY

• Making a decision about where to go to university can be tough. One of the most important things you can do when trying to make this decision is to visit campuses and see what everyday student life is like. Lakehead Orillia’s Preview Day open house is an excellent chance to be able to do this and will hopefully help you realize that our welcoming and vibrant campus is the one for you!  

To find out more and to register for Preview Day, visit mylakehead.ca

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Dr. Doug West, a Lakehead professor who is involved in the creation of community gardens at the campus, will lead a food policy discussion at the next In Conversation event, taking place at the Orillia Public Library on May 19 at 2 pm.

May 14, 2015 – Orillia, ON

A local food procurement policy encourages governments and community organizations to purchase food from local suppliers. Such a policy helps local farmers and food suppliers in the community and can also help to build a more secure local food system.

At the next In Conversation event – on Tuesday, May 19 from 2 – 3:30 pm – at the Orillia Public Library, Lakehead University’s Dr. Doug West will lead a panel discussion to explore how and why such a food policy could be established in Orillia.

Dr. West, Associate Professor with the departments of Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies, will be joined by Jacob Kearey-Moreland of the Orillia Community Gardens and Gary Machan, a resident of Rowanwood in Oro-Medonte.

 “There are plenty of benefits to implementing this kind of policy,” explains Dr. West. “We hope this event helps to raise awareness of the importance of local food policies, while pioneering a change in attitude that would support a more sustainable community.”

Admission is free to the In Conversation events, but registration is required and is accepted by email at info@orilliapubliclibrary.ca; by phone at 705-325-2338; or in person at the Library (36 Mississaga St. West).

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MEDIA:  For more information, please contact Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

“Orillia’s Champlain Monument: Historical Insights,” will be the topic of discussion at Lakehead’s upcoming In Conversation at the Orillia Public Library on Tuesday, April 21. Photo by Deb Halbot Photography

April 14, 2015 – Orillia, ON

What is the history behind one of Orillia’s most talked-about, and sometimes controversial, landmarks – the Champlain monument?

At the next In Conversation event – on Tuesday, April 21 – at the Orillia Public Library, Lakehead’s Dr. Michael Stevenson, Associate Professor of History, will present his interesting research findings about the monument, originally intended to commemorate the 300^th anniversary of Champlain’s travels through the region.

The sculpture by Vernon March was unveiled in 1925 after being delayed by the First World War. Dr. Stevenson will highlight the issues of historical memory, civic boosterism, and the representation of Aboriginals that emerged during the construction of the Champlain Monument and that continue to resonate today.

“The Champlain Monument represents one of the most intriguing pieces of Orillia’s past,” says Dr. Stevenson. “What I have found especially interesting are the recollections of local residents who have a family connection to some aspect of the monument or who have conducted their own investigations into its history.  I’m looking forward to both sharing my research and discussing the story of the monument’s creation with Orillians at the upcoming In Conversation event.”

Dr. Stevenson’s talk and discussion takes place on Tuesday, April 21, from 6:15 to 8 pm at the Orillia Public Library. Admission is free, but registration is required and is accepted by email at info@orilliapubliclibrary.ca; by phone at 705-325-2338; or in person at the Library (36 Mississaga St. West).

For a full schedule of In Conversation topics and dates, visit the Lakehead University website at lakeheadu.ca and check the calendar of events.

– 30 – 

In Conversation series website link: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/orillia-campus/community-programs/public-lectures. 

MEDIA:  For more information, please contact Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca 

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Jenn Lucas and Liz Breton will graduate on June 6 with their Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science and Bachelor of Education degrees.

In the competitive teaching market, what can students do to set themselves apart from the rest? According to Lakehead Orillia Faculty of Education’s Dr. Katherine Becker, real-world volunteering makes all the difference. 

Earlier this month, Lakehead Bachelor of Education students got the chance to participate in the Simcoe County District School Board’s (SCDSB) 2015 The Dragon’s Lair Gifted Outreach (GO) Conference, held at the University Avenue campus. Over 30 Education student volunteers planned and facilitated programs for over 300 Simcoe County elementary school students who are part of the gifted program. It was also a great networking event, as students got the chance to meet current SCDSB teachers, as well as participate in a free professional development workshop on teaching gifted students.

I had the chance to speak to two Education students, Jenn Lucas and Liz Breton, about their experiences. They heard about the conference while in one of Dr. Becker’s classes and jumped at the chance to participate.

“I was part of the gifted program, growing up, and I feel having these events for gifted students is very important,” said Lucas when asked about her motivation for participating in the conference. “I knew I could relate to these students, be in a good position to answer their questions, and make the conference a very fun experience for them.”

Lucas and Breton ran a workshop called ‘The Ultimate Hunt’, based on the curriculum topic of Habitats and Communities. Since the theme of the conference revolved around dragons, students participating in ‘The Ultimate Hunt’ got to complete in a scavenger hunt around Lakehead’s Orillia campus to collect materials that could be used to create a habitat fit for a dragon.

One of the most noticeable things about the conference was the inclusion of many forms of technology throughout the day, including the use of iPads and GPS. 

I asked Breton, who wrote her Honours thesis on the topic of technology in education, why all the tech gear? She explained that today’s children exist in an unprecedented world of technology.

“They’ve grown up with technology and they will need technology to succeed in their future,” she said. “The use of technology propels the curriculum forward and prepares students for life in the modern world.”

Both Lucas and Breton will be graduating, this June, with Breton representing the 2015 graduating class as one of the ‘Voices of Convocation’.

These two aspiring teachers will be doing many exciting things after getting their degrees, thanks to volunteer experiences like this one that give Lakehead Education students a leg up on their competition. Lucas is looking forward to spending time with her four-year old daughter, who she will begin homeschooling in September. As for Breton, she will continue her education as she begins her Master of Education at Lakehead in the fall.     

— 30 —

Stephanie Edwards is a third year Lakehead University student who works with Lakehead Orillia’s Communications office.  

The outstanding performance and sportsmanship demonstrated by student athletes Kareem Poonah and Boluwatife Fabanwo, members of the Lakehead Orillia men’s soccer team, was recognized with the Plastics Protect & Holliswealth Athletic Achievement Award for the month of February. 

March 18, 2015 – Orillia, ON

For the first time, Lakehead University has awarded its monthly Plastics Protect & Holliswealth Athletic Achievement Award to a pair of athletes. Two members of Lakehead Orillia’s men’s soccer team received the award for February.

The award is typically presented to one student athlete in recognition of exemplary leadership, sportsmanship and athletic performance.

Boluwatife Fabanwo of Mississauga and Nigeria, a first-year business student, and Kareem Poonah of Milton, a first-year education student, were honoured with the award for their outstanding contribution to the team. 

“Both of these athletes have demonstrated tremendous dedication and leadership and are equally committed to the team,” said Lakehead’s Athletics & Recreation Facilitator, Neil Quinn. “They have excelled during every game and are an inspiration to their teammates, both on and off the pitch.” 

The athletes were proud to receive the award together and both expressed how the opportunity to be a part of the team has contributed to their experience at Lakehead. 

“My experience on the team has helped me meet new people and develop great friendships,” explained Fabanwo, an international student who is enjoying the small, friendly atmosphere at Lakehead. Following the Lakehead season, Poonah is looking forward to an upcoming tryout with Toronto FC.

In addition to honouring the efforts of individual athletes, the award provides $500 to support the athlete’s team or club activities. 

The award was established under the direction of former Olympic and Canadian championship athlete, Michelle Cowell, who represents the award donor, Plastics Protect & HollisWealth – Benson Kearley IFG. 

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MEDIA:  For more information, please contact Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Dr. Kim Fedderson, Principal, Orillia Campus

May 15, 2015 – Orillia, ON

Building on the recommendations from the Provost’s Task Force on the Academic Structure and Governance at the Orillia Campus, President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson announced a new title and new responsibilities for Dean & Vice-Provost (Orillia campus) Dr. Kim Fedderson.

Dr. Fedderson has been named Principal of Lakehead University’s Orillia campus, effective immediately. Dr. Stevenson made the announcement to a gathering of students, faculty, staff, and community members at the Orillia campus. 

“Following the academic structural changes arising from the work of the Task Force, the time has come to realign our management and organization framework to support our Orillia campus’s evolution going forward,” said Dr. Stevenson. “This campus has outgrown the administrative structure that oversaw its pioneering years and early development.”           

Dr. Stevenson explained that as Lakehead Orillia was completing its initial phase — which saw the University’s establishment in downtown Orillia and the growth of its facilities at 500 University Avenue — the Task Force was established to recommend a model of academic structure and governance that effectively connects the academic units on both campuses, clarifies reporting lines, and promotes effective management. The Task Force tabled several recommendations, including proposed changes to structures and governance, academic program development, and inter-campus administration.

“As Principal of Lakehead Orillia, Dr. Fedderson’s role evolves with the campus he has managed so exceptionally,” added Dr. Stevenson. “This executive change is necessary to ensure the future of this campus, and the continued, successful growth of Lakehead University in the City of Orillia, the County of Simcoe, and beyond.”

Reporting directly to the President, and a full member of the Executive Team, Dr. Fedderson will act on the President’s behalf in Central Ontario. The Principal of the Orillia Campus is responsible for overseeing all operations at the Orillia campus to ensure alignment with the University’s strategic and academic plans; and for coordinating the activities of campus units to ensure integration and effectiveness in meeting University and campus objectives. 

“I feel privileged to be entrusted with the next phase of Lakehead’s Orillia campus,” said Dr. Fedderson. “I look forward to continuing to represent our University as we work with business and political leaders, and expand our partnerships with organizations and institutions.”

Dr. Fedderson served as Orillia Campus Dean from 2007-2012, before being appointed Dean & Vice-Provost (Orillia campus) in January 2012.

Lakehead University first came to Orillia in fall 2006, when the institution opened its doors at Heritage Place to offer a four-year Concurrent Education program along with an Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science program. Since then, the Orillia campus has grown from 104 students and two programs to almost 1,500 students and a dozen programs, and established its main campus on University Avenue. 

— 30 — 

To learn more about Lakehead Orillia’s new Office of the Principal, please click here for the Backgrounder document, and visit lakeheadu.ca/principalorillia.

MEDIA:  For more information, please contact Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca. 

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities. 

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead graduate Leah Catton is congratulated by Lakehead Chancellor, Dr. Derek Burney.

On June 6, Lakehead University’s Orillia campus presented over 300 students with their diplomas and welcomed them into the Lakehead alumni family. Lakehead graduates hail from all across the province and some will be jetting off to places like China and the United Kingdom to embark on their careers. A large number of graduates, though, are from right here in Simcoe County, and chose not only to study close to home, but to work and build their lives here as well. Three recent Simcoe County grads – Leah Catton, Gillian Murch, and Deb Balika – told me about their Lakehead experiences and their plans for the future. 

Barrie resident Leah Catton had a very memorable graduation, as she was this year’s Orillia Campus Dean’s Medal winner, which is awarded to the student with the highest overall average in the Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science (HBASc) program.  

 Catton is no stranger to receiving academic accolades, as she also was a recipient of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top scholarship. While at Lakehead she maintained an average above 90%. Originally enrolled in the HBASc Bachelor of Education (BEd) program, the diagnosis of a health condition caused her to change direction. Due to the limitations she was facing, she switched to Interdisciplinary Studies and opportunities that were more suited to her situation.  Thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of the Lakehead faculty, Catton fell in love with Interdisciplinary Studies and fostered her own passion to pursue graduate studies in social sciences.

Catton was accepted for a Master of Arts program, with an interest in humanitarian studies, at Royal Roads University in British Columbia. She hopes to, one day, work within a community organization in Simcoe County to realize her goal of helping people in vulnerable or disadvantaged circumstances.

“I can’t thank my professors enough for their continuous support and encouragement,” said Catton, when summarizing her Lakehead experience. 

Gillian Murch, who was born and raised right here in Orillia, liked the idea of going to a smaller school close to home. A graduate from the Honours Bachelor of Commerce (HBComm) program, she credits Lakehead with giving her the opportunity to engage directly with professors and peers, an experience that really enhanced her learning. 

“The Business program at Lakehead offers courses that cover all areas of business and teaches skills that I have already used, just two months into my new job,” said Murch.

She is currently working for Nottawasaga Futures (Community Development Corporation) on an initiative called Skills for the Green Economy. The project aims to identify and bridge the skilled labour shortage in Simcoe County’s green economy.

Murch, who lives with a permanent disability of low-vision, told me just how incredible and vital the Lakehead Accessibility staff were at helping her succeed at Lakehead: “It may just be a day’s work to them, but their work has a huge impact on students like me.”

Mature student and single mom Deb Balika, from Barrie, was looking for a university close to home when she decided to pursue postsecondary studies. 

“I liked the idea of small class sizes and the freedom of meaningful discussions that occur in small classroom settings,” said Balika when asked about choosing Lakehead Orillia.

Balika was a member of Lakehead Orillia’s charter class, in the HBASc/BEd program, and went on to become one of the school’s first full-time Master’s students when she enrolled in the Master of Science in Biology program. Balika graduated with her Master’s degree at the 2015 convocation. Balika’s Master’s research focused on the monitoring of inland water qualities and in particular, the study of microalgae and its use as an indicator of water quality.

“Working on this kind of research can get intense, including spending 10-12 hours a day looking into a microscope, but the atmosphere at Lakehead remained fun,” explained Balika. 

Balika is excited to be joining Lakehead’s Faculty of Education this September as a contract lecturer teaching the course ‘Science and Technology for Teachers’.

Congratulations to these three exceptional graduates and to all of the 2015 Lakehead graduates, from Simcoe County and beyond.

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Stephanie Edwards is a third year Lakehead University student who works with Lakehead Orillia’s Communications office.